That is a really great question. We all have the tendency to commend each other profusely. I like to think that we are all working toward becoming better writers and I like to encourage that in myself and others. Is that a positive frame around a sensitive issue?

I agree with Audrey here. There are people who have written and studied poetry for a long time and there are people barely exposed to poetry wrting on HP. People need encouragement and even constructive criticism can seem presumptious to both.

It's a difficult question for me to answer. I read a lot of poetry on here but very rarely comment. My problem is that there is so much clumsy, ill-thought out verse that seems to elicit feedback filled with superlatives, and there is rarely any advice given about how they can improve upon their offerings.

I once gave advice to a poet on here about how they could make their poem better, and she and her followers quickly rounded on me and gave me a hard time for daring to suggest that she wasn't quite the finished article.

So, I stay quiet. But, I have found some poetry that I think is very good, although it is getting harder to find. Audrey Howitt is the best poet on here by a country mile.

Thank you for the compliment. I belong to a number of poetry forums, and I have to really work at my poetry to feel competent in almost all of them. I would like to see more constructive comments given here, but people are sensitive, me included--

I've had the same problem. I'm a creative writing student so I'm used to workshop feedback. The author can ignore me if they want but it would be nice if they would at least take the comment into consideration.

I used to write a lot of poetry--years ago--before there was any such thing as Hub Pages.I will be the first to admit that any attempts of mine at traditional poetry sound forced, and yes, like they were written by a "hack" or a grade-school child. The rhyme-and-meter format does not come easily to me.Instead, I write in free, (also called blank) verse, which does not rhyme, but paints word pictures with poetic prose. We poets can be a sensitive (even over-sensitive) lot. I recall once in a college creative writing class, having a teacher suggest I alter this,that and the other word and phrasing. I complained that those were not MY words, nor my style, and that making those changes would make it HIS poem, not mine. For a final reply, I submitted the following statement in writing: "I work long and hard to birth my poems; who would edit them dismembers my children."It is a sentiment held by many poets, albeit seldom expressed with such a harshly graphic metaphor. But it got my point across with unmistakable clarity.

It depends on who you're reading! If you're reading my hubs, probably back-slapping amateurs, but I've read some awesome hubs lately which are insightful and interesting. Just have to weed through the amateurs

My poetry (on here) is quite personal and written after having extraordinary experiences. I remember when I first published a poem and how vulnerable I felt as to whether someone else would like it, or even get what I was saying. I'm thankful I got positive feedback. There was one commentor who asked whether it was my work! That was interesting, I think she thought I'd copied it off something. I think that too was a compliment. Some of the feedback I got was constructive, and given by other more experienced writers. I was greatful for that also.

The answer would be both, and perhaps it depends on taste. Like wine and art, is poetry a matter of taste? By the way, I have read some of yours, I like it.

I don't consider myself a great poet by any means. However I do like expressing my thoughts and sharing them with others and appreciate it if they like it. There are many others who write astounding poetry and I am awed by it. Of course there are those who keep trying but fall a bit short. HubPages is a great place to express one's creativity and to get some much needed feedback and encouragement. I think there is potential for everyone.

I'm with you tallgardener based on your comment. People jotting down exactly what their thoughts are without thinking of the others feelings makes life so much more interesting. I guess a mutual agreement should be made before the comment is made. I'll go first...

"Feel free to speak freely on anything I post as long as I can speak freely in return with no emotions or feelings involved, I will always accept comments knowing their is "no intention of insult" attached. Lets leave our insecurity's at the baby sitter. Cause I really do want to know if i suck, don't want to be another American Idol Reject."

"Thank you for this question"

By the way....

"I suck at punctuation, grammar, and I have the tendency to confuse people"

It's not only discouraging , I actually want to pull down all of my hubs out of pure disappointment , but I find it actually boring and deflating to read the average hub page today . In truth a poet is...

We all know the well known poets on here. What I want to know is who is YOUR favorite lesser known poet that needs some recognition? Here are a couple of my favorite lesser known poets:KFlippinMrDSpadegg.zainoAwful Poet

The discussion forum "Fiction Writers - Please Introduce Yourselves" (located at http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/91914 started by Website Examiner) is almost two years old. Website Examiner is no longer...